Yates takes charge

Last updated : 13 January 2003 By Tony Scholes

Mark Yates during last season's play off win against Rushden & Diamonds

In a statement this morning the club said that the board no longer had the confidence that Allner was the man to keep them in the division. Assistant Mike Davis turned down the opportunity to take over as caretaker and so he was sacked too.

Instead senior players Chris Banks and former Claret Mark Yates have taken temporary charge along with youth team coach Bob Booker and they will remain in charge until a permanent appointment is made. Allner had been in charge only since the summer following Steve Cotterill’s move to Stoke City.

Yates has been at Whaddon Road for almost four years, he signed at the end of January 1999 from Kidderminster Harriers.

Signed from Birmingham he never won a regular place in the Burnley side once Jimmy Mullen replaced Frank Casper as manager and neither was he the most popular of players with the fans.

He stayed with the Clarets four almost two years before moving on to Doncaster Rovers and from there he signed for Kidderminster.

The midfielder is 33 next week but is still a regular in the Cheltenham side and will be combining that with his new duties. Chris Banks however has also announced his retirement as a league player today following injury but is looking to move on from Cheltenham and play non-league football.

A good run of results could see Yates become the fourth former Burnley player to currently manage a league club alongside Stan, Brian Flynn and Brian Laws.